Battling bishop takes on the bookies

Known as the ‘bookie-bashing bishop’, Bishop Alan Smith shows no signs of backing down in his campaign to fight problem gambling.

He has now launched a move to change the inquest laws to highlight the part played by gambling if someone affected by it takes his or her own life.

The Bishop has already supported the successful campaign for a ban on gambling with credit cards - which comes into effect in April - and for the reduction of the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals.

Bishop Smith has also criticised the close links between gambling and football. This includes logos on shirts, pitch-side banners and the number of ads for gambling shown when matches are screened on TV.

He recently praised local club Luton Town FC for their ‘principled stance’ in “always resisting gambling money because they see themselves as a family club and core to the community.”

The Bishop – who sits in the House of Lords – has described the Premier League as being “hopelessly out of touch with grassroots supporters of football” when they defend gambling companies’ logos on players’ shirts.

As a football fan myself, I can see how gambling is playing an increasing part in the Beautiful Game. True, for some people, gambling on a match result or who scores adds to their enjoyment of the sport.

But the Bishop of St Albans is right to show a red card to the excesses of the gambling industry.

He’s also right to seek to protect children and those prone to addiction from the financial muscle of the big gambling firms.

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